Jug Handle State Natural Reserve

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve is next to Highway 1 about midway between the towns of Mendocino and Fort Bragg on the Mendocino County Coast. It’s a substantial park with trails, forests, bluffs, and a wonderful sandy beach.

The park is known for its hiking trail called the Ecological Staircase Trail which takes you through interesting geological features and ends at the Hans Jenny Pygmy Forest. Along the trail, hikers are educated about the forces of nature that formed the five “wave-cut terraces” in the park. Several other forests, including bishop pine, grand fir, and redwood trees, can be found throughout Jug Handle Natural Reserve. Trails explore the headlands above the cove in addition to the valley of Jug Handle Creek.

The beach in this state park is impressive with a deep sandy cove and high bluffs on both sides. If you hike around on the bluff south of the beach try to spot the rock arch known as the “Jughandle”.

It requires a short hike from the parking lot on the highway to reach the beach below the arched bridge over the gulch. A large paved parking lot for the park is well signed on Highway 1 near the small town of Caspar.

Address

15700 CA-1
Caspar, CA 95420

Phone

707-937-5804

Park Name

Jug Handle State Natural Reserve

Other Names

Jug Handle Creek Beach

Owner

State Park

Pet Details

Dogs allowed on leash on trails, not on beach

Fees

Free parking

Activities

Hiking, Sunbathing

Amenities

Interpretive Nature Trail, Restrooms, Picnic Tables, Creek, Rock Arch, Tree Groves, Redwood Forest, Arched Bridge, Geologic Features

Links

Tide Chart
Water Temps
Aerial View of Jug Handle State Natural Reserve